NSW Campbelltown District Court List Today

Campbelltown District Court is the intermediate criminal and civil court serving the Macarthur region of south-western Sydney. It forms part of the District Court of New South Wales, which was established in 1858 and is the largest trial court in Australia. The Campbelltown venue sits above the Local Court and below the Supreme Court in the state judicial hierarchy, and it hears the more serious matters that fall outside the reach of a Local Court magistrate. Full-time District Court sittings are held at Campbelltown alongside Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, Newcastle, Gosford, Wollongong and Lismore, which places the courthouse among a small group of permanent regional trial centres in the state.

The court serves one of the fastest growing catchments in New South Wales. The Campbelltown local government area recorded a population of 176,519 at the 2021 Census, and the Estimated Resident Population reached 188,303 by 2024. Together with neighbouring Camden and Wollondilly, the courthouse supports a Macarthur population well above 300,000 people, which helps explain the steady criminal and civil workload passing through its courtrooms each sitting week.

Where Campbelltown District Court Sits in the NSW Court System

The District Court of New South Wales handles the middle tier of criminal and civil work. Understanding that structure makes the daily Campbelltown District Court list far easier to read, because the court deals with defined categories of matter that move up from the Local Court or arrive directly on indictment.

Criminal jurisdiction

In its criminal jurisdiction the District Court can hear all indictable offences except murder, treason and piracy, which remain with the Supreme Court. Typical Campbelltown matters include serious assault, sexual offences, armed robbery, large drug supply and importation, dangerous driving occasioning death, and aggravated break and enter. Criminal trials are heard by a judge sitting with a jury of twelve, or by a judge alone where the accused elects that path. Sentence hearings, by contrast, proceed before a judge without a jury once a plea of guilty has been entered or a verdict returned.

Civil jurisdiction

On the civil side the court can determine claims from $100,001 up to a general limit of $1,250,000, a threshold that rose from $750,000 on 16 December 2022. It can also hear motor accident personal injury claims regardless of the amount in dispute, along with contract disputes, defamation actions and work injury damages. The equity and injunction limit sits at $100,000. Where both parties consent, the court can deal with claims that exceed the general limit.

Committals for the most serious matters begin lower down the ladder, in the Local Court, before they reach a District Court judge. If your matter started as a charge sheet at the Campbelltown Local Court, it may be committed here for trial or sentence once the paperwork is complete. Residents on the western edge of the catchment often begin at the Camden Local Court or the smaller Picton Local Court before their file moves up to Campbelltown.

Appeal jurisdiction

Campbelltown District Court also functions as an appeal court. A person dissatisfied with a conviction or sentence handed down in the Local Court can appeal to the District Court, where a judge reviews the matter afresh. Appeals against District Court decisions travel onward to the Court of Criminal Appeal or the Court of Appeal within the Supreme Court of NSW.

Cases Heard at Campbelltown District Court

The Campbelltown District Court daily law list brings together several distinct hearing types, and knowing which is which helps practitioners, defendants and witnesses plan their day.

• Arraignments and mentions: early administrative appearances where pleas are entered and trial or sentence dates are fixed.
• Criminal trials: contested indictable matters heard before a judge and jury, often listed across several days or weeks.
• Sentence hearings: proceedings that follow a guilty plea or a guilty verdict, where submissions on penalty are made.
• Conviction and sentence appeals: rehearings of Local Court decisions.
• Bail applications: requests to be released, or to vary conditions, while a matter is pending.
• Civil hearings: personal injury, motor accident and contract disputes decided by a judge.

Campbelltown District Court by the Numbers

The following figures come from the District Court of NSW 2024 Annual Review and the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. They describe the District Court statewide, and they give useful context for the volume and pace of work at regional venues such as Campbelltown.

• The Court registered 1,273 criminal trials across New South Wales in 2024 and heard 1,361 trials during the year.
• Judges completed 5,401 sentence hearings in 2024, the single largest category of criminal work.
• Civil registrations climbed from 3,724 in 2022 to 4,100 in 2023 and reached 4,358 in 2024, with 88 percent of civil cases finalised within 24 months.
• According to BOCSAR, District Court trials took a median of 834 days from arrest to finalisation in 2024, which was 109 days longer than in 2020, easing slightly to 843 days in 2025.
• The proportion of defendants refused bail at finalisation rose from 7.5 percent in 2023 to 9.2 percent in 2024, while custodial penalties increased from 8.7 percent to 9.8 percent over the same period.
• Across all NSW criminal courts, 172,307 defendants were finalised in 2024 to 2025, representing roughly a third of the national total.

These trends point to a court system carrying a heavy and lengthening trial workload, which is why checking the current Campbelltown District Court list before attending is worthwhile. Listings move, matters are adjourned, and courtroom allocations change from one morning to the next.

Court Location, Contact and Access

Campbelltown District Court is located at Railway Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560. The courthouse shares its complex with the Campbelltown Local Court and Children's Court, which makes it a central legal hub for the region. It stands within a short two to three minute walk of Campbelltown railway station on the T8 Airport and South Line, so it is readily reached by train from Central and across the wider Sydney network. Campbelltown lies roughly 50 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district.

Contact details

• Address: Railway Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560
• Postal address: PO Box 91, Campbelltown NSW 2560
• Telephone: 1300 679 272
• Fax: 4629 9606
• Registry hours: 8:45 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday
• Telephone hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday

Audio Visual Link facilities are available in all courtrooms at Campbelltown, which allows some witnesses, parties and vulnerable persons to give evidence remotely. Parking around the precinct is limited, so allowing extra time for street parking or nearby public car parks, and for security screening at the entrance, is sensible on busy sitting days.

Preparing for a Hearing at Campbelltown District Court

A short amount of preparation reduces stress and avoids missed appearances. The points below apply to most people attending, whether for a criminal matter, a civil claim or an appeal.

• Confirm your courtroom number and listed time on the current daily law list before you leave home.
• Arrive early to clear security screening and to locate the correct courtroom within the complex.
• Bring photo identification, your court papers and any documents your legal representative has asked you to carry.
• Dress neatly and switch mobile phones to silent once inside the courtroom.
• Contact the registry in advance if you need an interpreter, as this service can be arranged through the court.
• Seek advice from Legal Aid NSW or a private solicitor early, since District Court matters are serious and outcomes can carry lasting consequences.

If you are chasing a listing that is not showing here, check that you have the right venue for the day. Bail applications and quick mentions may still be running at the Local Court next door, while an appeal from a District Court decision is dealt with by the Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney. Coastal matters from the Illawarra are heard at the Wollongong venue rather than Campbelltown, so confirm the town before you travel.

The Macarthur Region the Court Serves

Campbelltown is the administrative and commercial heart of the Macarthur region, functioning as a satellite city for Sydney's south-west. The District Court venue draws matters from Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly and the surrounding suburbs of Ingleburn, Minto, Leumeah, Glenfield, Macquarie Fields and Bradbury. The area is young and diverse, with a median age of 35 and more than half of residents having at least one parent born overseas. Rapid population growth across the Macarthur corridor continues to feed demand for court services, which keeps the Campbelltown list active throughout the sitting year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of cases does Campbelltown District Court hear?

It hears serious indictable criminal offences such as assault, sexual offences, drug supply and dangerous driving causing death, along with appeals from the Local Court and civil claims between $100,001 and $1,250,000. Motor accident personal injury claims can be heard regardless of value.

Where is Campbelltown District Court located?

The courthouse is on Railway Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560, a two to three minute walk from Campbelltown railway station on the T8 Airport and South Line.

How do I check the Campbelltown District Court list for today?

You can view the daily law list on this page, which sets out case names, courtroom numbers and listed times. Details can change, so verify anything time critical with the court registry on 1300 679 272 before attending.

What time do proceedings start?

Most matters are listed from 9:30 am or 10:00 am unless the daily list states otherwise. Arriving well ahead of your listed time allows for security screening.

Can I appeal a Local Court decision at Campbelltown District Court?

Yes. Conviction and sentence appeals from the Campbelltown Local Court are heard by a District Court judge. Strict time limits apply, so obtaining legal advice quickly is important.

Is Campbelltown District Court the same building as the Local Court?

Yes. The Campbelltown courthouse complex houses the District Court, the Local Court and the Children's Court, so signage and courtroom numbers on the daily list will direct you to the correct room.